Sofa bed



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m 6 EJ ma www/MFM SOFA BED Raymond H. Bleeker, John S. Petersen, andKenneth J.

Unwin, Kenosha, Wis., assignors to Simmons Company, New York, N.Y., acorporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 28, 1956, Ser. No. 631,279

2 Claims. (Cl. 5-18) This invention relates to sofa beds of the type inwhich an upholstered surface, disposed partially beneath a back rest toform a seat, is bodily shiftable forwardly of the back rest to exposethe entire area of the surface for sleeping purposes.

The invention relates particularly to an -improved support for themovable seat or bed structure of sofa beds of the described type, andhas for its objects the automatic determination of the limit positionsof the movable structure, i.e., the sofa position and the bed position,the automat-ic leveling of the movable structure in the bed position,and conversely, the development of proper seating pitch in the sofaposition, and the utilization of the force of gravity to facilitate theconversion from bed to sofa use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be appreciated andthe invention understood by reference to the following specification inconjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferredform of sofa bed in accordance with the invention.

ln the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of the sofa bed in sofa position.

IFigure 2 is a perspective view of the skeletal supporting frameincluding the track members on which the movable bed unit is supported.

'Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the sofa bed illustrated in lFigl, showing the same in sofa position.

Figure 4 is an end elevational view showing the movable bed structure inbed position by solid lines, and in an intermediate position by brokenlines.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the framing of the movable bed structure withthe upholstered portions thereof removed.

Figure 6 is a front elevational view of the frame shown in Fig. 5.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 7-7 ofFig. 3 to show certain details of the undercarriage of the movable bedstructure, and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line of 8 8 ofFig. 3 and showing particularly the inter-engagement of certain pants ofthe support for guiding the movement of the bed structure between itsrespective end positions.

The illustrated sofa bed comprises essentially a normally stationaryskeletal metal frame 10, a back rest 12 iixedly secured to thestationary frame, and a bed structure M which is shiftably mounted onthe stationary frame for movement thereon from a sofa position (Figs. land 3), in wh-ich the fixed back rest overlies a substantial portion ofthe bed surface to foreshorten the same to a comfortable seating length,to a bed position (Fig. 4), forwardly of the back rest, at which theentire surface of the bed is exposed for sleeping purposes.

The stationary frame (Figs. 2 and 3) is of welded tubular construction,the tubular components being preferably of square cross section asindicated. The frame includes two rear post members 16, the upperportions nited States Patent ,ice

17 of which are turned forwardly to provide horizontal supports for theback rest 12. The post members 16 are connected by horizontal bracingmembers 18 and are closed at both ends by end caps 20.

The base portions of the frame 10 comprises two track members 22, eachextending forwardly from one of the post members 16, the track members22 being connected together near their forward ends by a front crossbrace 24. Each of the traek members is supported near its front end by ashort leg 26 which is capped at its lower end 'to provide a solidhoor-engaging surface. A rubber bumper 19, secured to each post 16 at aheight to engage the base board of a wall, prevents scutiing of the wallagainst which the sofa bed is normally placed.

Referring particularly to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be noted that theheight of the legs 26 and the attachment of the track members 22 to thepost members 16 is such as to provide a rearward and downward slope tothe track. This, as will be later seen, serves the purpose of levelingthe bed structure in bed position, and conversely, of providing a properpitch to the seating surface in sofa position, as well as facilitatingthe return of the bed structure to the sofa position.

T he back rest 12 is preferably unholstered, and may, as indicated inFig. 3, comprise certain structural framing parts providing an incl-inedforward face 28, to which suitable cushions 30 are preferably secured,as shown, or against which loose back cushions may be placed, to providea properly sloped back-supporting surface. The back rest is secured tothe horizontal portions 17 of the post members 16 by means of screws orbolts 32 passing through the post portions 17 and through certain of theframing members of the back rest. lt will be understood, of course, thatthe detailed construction of the back rest itself is not material to theinvention, and that the back rest structure may assume a variety offorms and may include a compartment for the storage of bedding orpillows, as may be required.

The bed structure 14 may comprise a box spring 34 carrying on its uppersurface a mattress 36 which will provide comfortable support forsleeping and sitting use. Theinternal construction of the mattress andbox spring are immaterial and not illustrated, but the structuralframing portions of the box spring are indicated generally, by brokenlines, in Figs. 3 and 4, and in somewhat greater detail in Figs. 5 and6.

The box spring frame 3S comprises fore and aft longitudinal members 4t2connected together by numero-us cross members 42, suitably spaced toprovide the necessary support for an inner spring construction, notshown. In addition, the box spring frame is provided with peripheralapron strips 44 which tend to conceal the other portions of the frameand to serve as anchoring or tacking strips for the upholstery.

Secured to the underside of the box spring frame 38 near each sidethereof, are a pair of angle iron members 46 which are secured togetherback toV back, in spaced relation, by front and rear cross pieces 48 towhich the angle iron members 46 are riveted or otherwise secured. Theangle iron members themselves are attached to the longitudinal membersI40 of the box spring frame by means of bolts or screws, as indicated.The connections of the angle iron members to the box spring and thespacing between them is such that they register with the track members22 of the stationary frame 10 (Figs. 7 and 8). Y

Between the angle iron members 46 of each pair, and positionedrearwardly of the center of gravity of the box spring and mattress,there is a supporting roller 5t) which is journalled on a bolt 52passing through the vertical anges of the angle iron members andcentered therebetween by suitable spacing washers 54, as shown 3particularly -in Figs. 3 and 7. As so positioned, the rollers 50 engagethe upper surfaces ofthe track members 22 to support the bed structurethereon.

Positioned rearwardly of the support roller 50 near the rear of the boxspring frame, there is a second and somewhat smaller roller 56 which isjournalled on a bolt S8 extending between spaced plates 60 eachrespectively secured to one of the angle iron members 46 at the rearthereof. The smaller roller 5.6, being centered between the plates 66 bysuitable spacing washers or collars 62 as shown in Fig. 7, engages theunderside of the track member 22, being held in engagement therewith bythe moment of weight of the box spring and mattress around the axis ofthe larger support roller 50. The undersides of the tubular trackmembers 22 are provided at the back and adjacent the front with embosseddepressions 64 and 66 respectively which serve as seats to receive thelower support roller 56 to stop the shiftable bed structure 14 in thesofa and bed positions, and to provide abutments which preventunintentional movement of the bed structure from either of thosepositions.

Referring specifically to Fig. 3, it will be appreciated that by liftingthe bed structure 14 at its front end, the bed structure will rock aboutthe axis of the forward support roller 50, thereby disengaging therearward support roller 56 from rearward depression 64 in the undersideof the track 22. When the rearward roller is so disengaged, the bedstructure may be pulled forwardly being supported entirely during itsforward movement by the pairs of staggered rollers 50 and 56, until therearward roller 56 engages the forward depression 66 in the underside ofthe track.

At its forward end, each track 22 is provided with an upwardly extendingguide roller 68 which is journalled on a pin 69 extendingperpendicularly upwardly from the track 22, the roller 68 being of suchsize as to tit freely between the spaced-apart pair of angle ironmembers 46. The roller 68 prevents lateral shifting of the bed structureduring its forward and rearward movement on the supporting frame 10. Aspacing collar 70 fitted on the pin 69 beneath the roller 68 supportsthe latter sufficiently high to prevent disengagement of the roller 68from the angle iron members 46 when the bed structure is lifted at itsfront and to free the roller 56 from the depressions 64 or 66. Therelative positions of the guide rollers 68 and the forward depressions66 in the undersides of the supporting tracks are preferably such thatwhen the forward support roller 50 meets the guide roller 68 at theforward end of the track, the lower roller 56 is centrally positioned inthe forward recess 66 of the supporting track 22.

When the lower roller S6 reaches the depression 66 in the track at theend of its forward movement, the bed structure 14 rocks downwardly aboutthe axis of the forward support roller 50 to the position shown in solidlines in Fig. 4. The front end of the bed structure is directlysupported in this position by a pair of support legs `71 which are of alength suitable not only to level the bed structure in sleepingposition, but to support the weight of the front end of the bedstructure in the sofa position as well.

It will be understood by reference to the broken line intermediateposition of Fig. 4, that in its passage between its two extremepositions, the bed structure 14 is supported entirely by the staggeredrollers 50 and 56, with the support legs 71 of the bed structureelevated well o'ff the floor.

To initiate the in-going movement from bed position to sofa position,the `operator simply lifts the front of the bed structure suiciently todisengage the lower roller 56 from the forward 'depression 66 in theunderside of the track, and pushes the bed structure 14 gentlyrearwardly. With the lower roller disengaged from the de- 4 pression 66,the bed structure rolls down hill to the rear, until thero'll'er 56reaches the rearward depression 64 in the track, whereupon the bedstructure rocks downwardly about the axis of the forward roller 50, intothe Pig. 3 position, placing the front support legs 71 of the bedstructure 14 on the oor.

The foregoing sofa bed structure is simple and rugged and can be easilyoperated without requiring any special skill on the part of theoperator. To convert from a sofa to a bed, the operator simply 'liftsthe front end of the bed structure and draws the same forwardly as faras he can, whereupon the weight of the bed structure positions itproperly, with the sleeping surface level. To reconvert to a sofa `theoperator simply lifts again at the forward end and moves the bedstructure slightly rearwardly, whereupon gravity returns the bedstructure auto matically to the sofa position with its surface properlycanted to the desired seating pitch.

Features of the invention believed new and patentable are set forth inthe following claims.

We claim:

l. A sofa bed comprising a normally stationary sofa frame having a vbackrest and a base portion, and a bed structure movably mounted on saidbase portion for movement between a rearward seat position disposedpartially beneath said back rest and a sleeping position forwardly ofsaid back rest, said bed structure having floor-engaging support legs atthe front thereof, said base portion including a pair of spaced paralleltrack members extending forwardly from beneath said back rest, themovable mounting of said bed Structure on said base portion comprising apair of rollers journalled on its underside for engagement with each ofsaid track members, said rollers of each pair being positionedrearwardly of the center of gravity of said bed structure and beingoffset from front to rear, the forward one of said rollers of each pairengaging the upper surface of its associated track member and therearward one of said rollers engaging the under surface of said trackmember, said bed structure being supported entirely by said rollers inits movement between said positions and being canted upwardly at itsfront end during such movement with said support legs -o the floor, eachof said track members having rearward and forward depressions on itsunderside for receiving the rearward one of its associated rollers todetermine respectively said seat and sleeping positions, the movement ofsaid bed structure being arrested at said positions by the rocking ofsaid bed structure downwardly by gravity about said forward rollers toposition said rearward rollers in said depressions and to place saidsupport legs on the floor.

2. A sofa bed comprising a normally stationary sofa frame having abackrest and a base portion, and a bed structure movably mounted on saidbase portion for movement between a rearward seat position disposedpartially beneath said back rest and a sleeping position forwardly ofsaid back rest, said bed structure having Hoor-engaging support legs atthe front thereof, said base portion including a pair of spaced paralleltrack members extending Iforwardly and upwardly from beneath said backrest, the movable mounting of said bed structure on `said base portioncomprising a pair of rollers journalled on its underside for engagementwith each of said track members, said rollers of each pair beingpositioned rearwardly at the center of gravity of said bed structure andbeing offset from front to rear, the forward one of said rollers of eachpair engaging the upper surface of its associated track member and therearward one of said rollers engaging the under surface of said trackmember, said bed structure being supported entirely by said rollers inits movement `between said positions and being canted upwardly atitsfront end during such movement with said support legs off the oor, eachof said tracks having rearward and -forward depressions on its undersidefor receiving the rearward one of its associated rollers to determinerespectively said seat and sleeping positions, the movement of said bedstructure being arrested at said positions `by the rocking of said bedstructure downwardly by lgravity about said forward rollers to positionsaid rearward rollers in said depressions and to place said support legson the oor, said forward rollers and said support legs supporting saidbed structure level in sleeping position and downwardly and rearwardlypitched in sea-t position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS WerselMar. 22, 1904 Deimel Ang. 13, 1907 Wilson Nov. 3, 1914 Hunter Feb. 22,1916 Bebry Dec. 2, 1930 Thum Feb. 3, 1931 Hoffstetter et al Aug. 3, 1937FOREIGN PATENTS Switzerland Nov. 1, 1949

